LEADGATE re-ignited their title challenge when they sent Percy Main to another defeat in the Foster’s Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League despite Main’s fight.

The home club, adrift at the foot of the table, struggled to 149 against the bowling of Lee Innes (3-22) and Daniel Stewart (3-36). But hopes of an easy win were shattered by James Butler (4-57) and Motashim Ali (3-45) who had the first six batsmen out for 43. It took 48 from Robbie Hockaday to retrieve the situation but even then it was left to the last pair to scramble over the line.

Leaders Lintz were at Annfield Plain where they cruised to a six-wicket win. Plain relied on Rehan Rafique’s 56 in their 141, but it was always tough against the bowling of Gary Christie (3-29) and Michael Edmunds (3-39). Lintz were soon two down but Richard Brewis (36) and Ryan McVitie (65no) made a match-winning stand to keep their team at the top.

The game of the day was at Benwell and Walbottle where Swalwell also had a fright against a team in relegation trouble as the home side came within six runs of victory. Lloyd Anderson hit a glorious 127, and with Ian and Stuart Pattison chipping in with 40 and 34 respectively it looked game over at the interval with 255 scored. But Benwell, led by Anarud Singh’s century, nearly did it. David Rutherford’s 3-43 kept his team in the hunt.

Champions Tynedale won’t be giving up their crown without a fight as Ashington found. Stuart Graham claimed five of the eight wickets to fall in the visitors’ 153. David Ross (45) and Michael Thewlis (50no) rescued an innings heading for disaster. But Scott Kay (37), Simon Prudhoe (45), and Graham (49no) took the home side to a seven-wicket win.

Morpeth were in a four-run defeat against Shotley Bridge. Six bowlers combined to restrict Bridge to 165-7. But Morpeth found it tough, particularly when opener Blake Reynolds went for 44, and wickets fell with regularity to Jackson (3-27), John Collingwood (4-32) and Phil Carlin (2-22). A last wicket stand brought them near victory until a stumping.

Newcastle City beat Sacriston by 52 runs.

In the Three Counties Northumberland League Premier Division Blue Flames beat second-placed Alnmouth to replace them in that spot.

Flames were thankful for Fiaz Ahmed’s 42 which helped them to 136. Flames’ Zia destroyed the Alnmouth line-up with 6-18 to leave the visitors all out on 76 – a 60-run defeat.

Corbridge’s David Newton had figures of 3-19 against Cowgate but Bilal Haider came to the rescue with 58 to take his team to 116, and that was enough. Mansoor (4-25) and Haider (3-22) gave the home side a torrid time and their challenge fizzled out when 26 short.

Stocksfield reinforced their lead at the top beating visiting Warkworth by three wickets, while at the other end of the table Belsay succumbed to Blyth who had a 10-wicket success.

Chopwell’s hopes of being in the title race were dealt a blow by Heaton Park who leapfrogged them in the table. Stephen Smith (45) and R Byerley (58) looked to have set up a winning total of 172 despite four wickets each for Mohammed Rehan and M Little. However Naeem Feroz (58) and Mustanza Ahmed (83) had other ideas as they set up a convincing six-wicket success.

Clara Vale’s new dawn didn’t quite materialise as Kirkley gained a vital win to ease their own fears but heighten those of their opponents.

Mark Ewan (3-23), Craig Johnson (4-36) and Doug Cheek (3-39) proved a deadly combination even though Shaker Balasandaram (43) and Ben Twizell (38) did their best to lift the Vale innings.

Christian Rowe headed the Kirkley response with 44 and then Jonathan Ball bounced his team to a six-wicket success with an unbeaten 36.